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Island Mele John Berger |
"Forward"
Kahiau
Poi PounderAnyone who fears the resurgence of traditional Hawaiian music reflects a lack of Jawaiian acts will find their fears assuaged here. Kahiau's new album is full of reggae-influenced originals and remakes of both American pop hits and Jamaican reggae oldies. A photograph shows the trio all holding instruments, but the credits indicate that producer / arranger Sean Na'auao actually played the tightly arranged tracks heard here.
Band member Cheyenne Kaniho's originals are generally more interesting than the remakes, but Kahiau's reggae-beat version of "Survivin' " is an exception. The arrangement fits the attitude expressed by the lyrics and the guys sound like they feel it -- this one should merit radio play.
On the other hand, we really don't need another remake of "Pass the Dutchie," and a generic Jawaiian take on "Try Again" fails because, as opposed to "Survivin'," the lyrics and the arrangement are incompatible.
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Forward
"Desert Isle"
Nanea
FBC Sound ProductionsThe recordings of "off-island Hawaiians" on the mainland have become better known here as more of them reach the islands. This one introduces a Vegas-based group fronted by vocalist Bruce K. Willingham and producer / composer Franklin B. Corpuz Sr. (Gary Haleamau and steel guitarist Herbert Hanawahine are the most notable off-island musicians).
Unfortunately, the album is a hodge-podge. Hawaiian standards, with nicely sung falsettos and clean traditional arrangements, are interspersed with earnest, if lyrically awkward, English-language pop originals tainted with intrusive synthesizer filler. Folks who enjoy Hawaiian music will want to skip the weak pop stuff entirely, while anyone outside of Corpuz's immediate family will find no information on the meaning and significance of the Hawaiian songs.
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"Forever"
Leka Kneubuhl, John Ruddock and Robert Kneubuhl
Self-releaseThis do-it-yourself CD single is a requiem for Joseph Sparacio, who was only 15 when he died while diving off the Big Island earlier this year. Teenagers Leka Kneubuhl and John Ruddock worked through their grief by writing a song in his memory and then recorded it with Leka's brother Robert, with some professional assistance from arranger / producer Rick Banch and Ruddock's mother, Rhonda -- known to her friends and fans as the "Queen of the South Pacific."
Banch set the teens' earnest lyrics to a mainstream rock arrangement. The trio's harmonies are naturally doleful, but Banch adds poppy guitar riffs that make "Forever" more than a karaoke dirge. Sparacio's ohana will certainly appreciate it. (The single is currently available only at the Esprit Nightclub when Rhonda is performing; proceeds go to the Joseph Sparacio Fund for student scholarships at Benjamin Parker School.)
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See Record Reviews for some past reviews. John Berger, who has covered the local
entertainment scene since 1972, writes reviews of recordings
produced by Hawaii artists. See the Star-Bulletin's Today
section on Fridays for the latest reviews. Contact John Berger at jberger@starbulletin.com.
